Speaker Upmeyer sends out survey ahead of 2019 session

Representative Linda Upmeyer (R-Clear Lake), the Speaker of the Iowa House, sent out an email asking for thoughts from Iowans as part of her legislative newsletter.

“As we gear up for the 2019 legislative session, I want to hear from you,” Upmeyer said. “I’d like to know which issues are most important to the people I represent and what you want the Legislature to focus on when we convene in January.”

The survey gives a little insight into what might be the 2019 priorities for House Republicans. A state budget of $7.3 billion clearly shows the state spends too much.

Creating a mental health system for Iowa’s kids, improving the state’s Medicaid program, addressing Iowa’s skilled worker shortage, furthering reforms to Iowa’s tax code and making our schools safer were the choices given for what the top priority should be in 2019.

The survey asks about education spending, taxes (more than once), raising the state sales tax, sports gambling and adding Second Amendment protections to Iowa’s Constitution.

Obvious omissions include anything related to life and religious liberty. But there’s room for adding those issues to certain parts of the survey.